Thousands of Venezuelan soccer fans used the Copa America to show opposition to President Hugo Chavez, rising to their feet with chants of "Freedom!"

The chants - which included "This government is going to fall!" - began shortly into the second half of Thursday's match between the U.S. and Argentina in the western city of Maracaibo, a stronghold of opposition to Chavez.

You know, it amazes me that there are still people in this world who refuse to admit there's any danger. Hold on, I think I should rephrase that. No danger except from America. Car bombs, backpack bombs, head choppers, six-year-old children used as weapons of death. No problems here. America is evil.

And if it turns out that this had nothing to do with Muslims, I'll1 - be surprised2 - retract the part about the car bombs and head choppers and such

If there was any doubt that there is a problem within Islam, this has to open your eyes. And if not, then you're hopeless.

"They placed explosives on a six-year-old boy and told him to walk up to the Afghan police or army and push the button," said Captain Michael Cormier, the company commander who intercepted the child, in a statement. "Fortunately, the boy did not understand and asked patrolling officers why he had this vest on."

"He was a really patriotic young man", said Darrell Griffin Sr. "He said that the people there really needed us and he felt it was the right place to be. He wished we didn’t have to have wars, but since that’s the way mankind is, he felt he was contributing an important part to his country".

SSgt. Griffin lost his life in Balad, Iraq when his unit came under fire as it was returning to base after conducting security operations in the Iraqi capital.

The eldest son of six children, SSgt. Griffin worked as an EMT before joining the California Army National Guard in 1999. He enlisted in the Army two years later, and in July 2001, was assigned to the 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, in Ft. Lewis, Washington. He served with that unit in Iraq from October 2004 to September 2005.

On his second tour of duty, SSgt. Griffin had been awarded the Bronze Star for valor in 2005 when he was credited with saving the lives of three U.S. and two Iraqi Army soldiers injured during battle in Tal Afar. He had also received the Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Combat Infantry Badge, Expert Infantry Badge, Parachute Badge, and the Meritorious Unit Citation.

"Griff was the type of man you want to have by your side in a fight," Maj. Brent Clemmer, his former company commander, wrote from Iraq. "He was the type of squad leader every young soldier wants to have".

"Darrell was my husband, my Soldier, my gift from God who was also the love of my life and always will be." Said his wife, Diana. "He was also 'a Soldier's Soldier of Strength and Honor' whose commitment to duty, honor and loyalty will be forever remembered by all who know and love him. The news of his death saddens us deeply and we ask for your prayers in our time of grief. Please also continue to keep our Soldiers in your prayers

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. To find out more about Wednesday Hero, you can go here.

Paul Newman thinks that Republicans have destroyed the American spirit. Really? Let's think about this. The American spirit is working hard to earn everything you have and standing up for the little guy. Does that sound like Democrats to you? Because it doesn't to me. Democrats believe that we're entitled to everything from birth and we all know how they feel about taking a stand for people who are in trouble. No, Mr. Salad Dressing, it's not Republicans who have destroyed the American spirit. It's Republicans who are fighting to keep it alive.

And scare tactics? Is he serious? I keep bringing it up, but legalized rape is a scare tactic that a certain Democrat has used. So is reinstatement of the draft, revoking Roe vs. Wade, black churches will burn, taking away our civil liberties, George Bush pushing little old ladies in wheelchairs down a flight of stairs. Please.

Political prisoner Paris Hilton has finally been released from jail. After serving three horrible weeks in a maximum security prison where she was forced to do hard labor, Ms. Hilton was all smiles as she was chauffeured home. Ms. Hilton was originally scheduled to give her first post-prison interview to CNN's Larry King, but I was able to finagle that prize myself. Enjoy.

Me:Ms. Hilton, how does it feel to finally be free?Paris:It's hot.

Me:Okay. How was life in the big house? 22 days is an awful long time to be away from friends and family.Paris:It wasn't hot. There was no one to make my bed for me or take my picture.

Me:Uh...okay. So, what are you plans now that you're out? Do you plan on furthering your newly found spiritual side or perhaps starting a charity program to help young kids who've made the same mistakes you've made in life?Paris:Jesus is hot. He like, turned water in to wine or something. I'm going to have to invite him to my next party.

Not only is she carrying a bag that seems to support Mao Zedong, a man responsible for between 40 and 70 million deaths during his "Great Leap Forward", but she's carrying it around Peru. A place that doesn't have a great deal of love for Communism.Story

It's kind of like those morons who wear the Che Guevara shirts. Now she's going to have to issue a half-assed apology that she doesn't mean. I liked her in The Mask and Charlie's Angels but then she went and said one of the dumbest things ever, claiming that if you vote for Bush 04 it means you want rape to be legal, and showed herself to be the mental midget that she is.

Hatak Yuka Keyu Martin Yearby was remembered in funeral services as a small town boy who balanced his Choctaw tribal heritage and his military life.

He did traditional American Indian dances with grace, compassion, discipline and free spirit — "the way he lived his life," the Rev. Timm Emmons said Monday.

"He had a desire to be in the military since he was a young boy. And he believed in what he was doing. He was a warrior, and he was a hero and he finished the course."

Yearby was killed by a roadside bomb, along with fellow Lance Cpl. Jose S. MarinDominguez Jr., in the Al Anbar province of Iraq, two months after he arrived in that country.

Friends and family, fellow American Indians, teachers and classmates filed past his open casket for an hour after the funeral while a U.S. Marine Corps honor guard stood at attention.

About 1,000 people attended a funeral service meant to celebrate the life of the 21-year-old newlywed from Overbrook in southern Oklahoma’s Love County.

Those who spoke in the packed Marietta High School auditorium talked of how he loved to hunt, but never came back with anything. He played tricks, won dancing awards at powwows and appeared on a recruiting magazine for Upward Bound because of a headdress he made from a T-shirt.

Nine of his friends stood on stage to remember Yearby. Jake Barber spoke for them, pausing several times to regain his composure.

"Many great words describe Hatak. The only real word you need to say is 'brother'. He will always be known to us as the ace of spades, the most important card in the deck. He touched us so dearly that words cannot explain,".

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. To find out more about Wednesday Hero, you can go here.

How do headbangers do it? I thrash for more than 30 seconds and my neck is killing me for days

The butterflies will hatch their plan in October

You know you're getting old when you begin longing for the "good old days"

Why does a fresh cut lawn give a man such a sense of satisfaction

Five time a day is tearin' my ass up

Have you ever tried to stop a page from loading but it won't. You keep hitting the key over and over, but nothing happens. Then, you look down, and DUH, you're hitting F5 instead of Esc

CX7300

Have you ever given anyone a dutch oven

Speaking of which. Have you ever ripped one that smelled so bad you were proud of it

Guys. Please stop using pictures of yourself without a shirt as a profile pic. You look stupid

Does anyone, besides me, still collect those state quarters

Why does it take so long for gas prices to go down when they can go up by 10 cents overnight

Seven of Nine, Tertiary Adjunct of Unimatrix Zero-One

Have you ever noticed that when you're sick you, for some reason, can't remember what it's like to not be sick? And for some guys, we don't think we'll ever be well again

Don't want me any of that harder stuffDon't need it any moreI'm in Hell and I'm sinking fastAnd I don't need no cure

You ever sneeze and lose what comes out? You know it didn't fall to the ground because you didn't see it fly. It's not on your shirt, arm or hand. Then, a week later, you find it in your mustache

Why does meatloaf taste better the next day

Sammy Hagar is better as a solo artist than with Van Halen

5 hours in a day. That would be awesome

Why do some men still insist on using the terms "babe" or chick"? I mean, "sweetcheeks" is so much better

I love Whites who can "sympathize with the plight of minorities"

Have you ever bought an album based on just one song? Sometimes it pays off and sometimes it doesn't

Do you believe in miracles? You should. How else do you explain Will Ferrell's success? It sure ain't talent.

Why is radio better at night than during the day

Ladies, do you want to know how really perverted men are? I'll tell you. When we see even a picture of a woman in a skirt, we'll try to move our heads around to see if we can see anything. Or is that just me?

Authors of the report called on the corporation to be more "open-minded" in the views it reflects and warned against "bias of elimination" which it branded "offensive".

Open minded. Something many Liberals have no concept of. Being open minded doesn't only mean being okay with homosexuality or being pro-abortion people. It also means listening to and being "open" to points of view that you don't agree with.

Other titles they could have used:Muslim world inflamed by Sun being center of Solar SystemMuslim world inflamed by women who smileMuslim world inflamed by Earth being on a 23 degree axis tiltMuslim world inflamed by batteries being low in their camcorder as they tape their Jihad videoMuslim world inflamed by 8-track tapes

The first order of business for Hamas, since taking control of the Gaza Strip, has been to ban terrorists from wearing their traditional coward mask to hid their identity. Except when they're shooting at those evil Jews that is.

"Wearing masks should only be near the borders and in fighting the Zionist enemy, not in the streets and near people's homes," Abu Hilal, spokesman for the Hamas-controlled Interior Ministry, said

Do you love our United States Marine Corps? Of course you do. You better. Well, get your asses over to BLACKFIVE to find out how you can email them and let them know that you appreciate everything they do for you.Ooh-Rah

This is an awesome story. Read and enjoy. And if you've never seen Windtalkers, do so. A great movie.Quote 1

"Were it not for the Navajos, the Marines world never have taken Iwo Jima," Maj. Howard Connor, 5th Marine Division's signal officer, said after the war.

Quote 2

For Smith, who went to war as a fiery youngster filled with tales of the forced relocation of Navajos in 1864 and skirmishes with neighboring tribes, the only tribute that mattered came from his grandfather.

"When I came back he told me 'grandson ... you're a man now, you're a warrior' ... and I appreciated that above all the medals."

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger told the National Association of Hispanic Journalists that if immigrants want to learn English quicker they should turn of Spanish speaking television and avoid Spanish books and newspapers.

You're just forced to speak English, and that just makes you learn the language faster

That's how he learned English, by immersing himself in it.

Here's the part I like. Now, keep in mind that is from the San Francisco Gate.

Schwarzenegger has garnered more Hispanic support than most Republican governors in the past two elections, despite some seemingly anti-immigration blunders — such as praising the Minutemen border militia group on a talk radio show.

Red=Hardiness and ValorWhite=Purity and InnocenceBlue=Vigilance, Perseverance and Justice

Yes, they're only colors dyed on cloth. But it's what they represent that fills many of us with pride. Strength and determination. A willingness to stand up for what we believe in. Brave men and women have given their lives for what the simple colored cloth stands for. So you can burn it, you can spit on it, you can do whatever you want to it but you'll never kill what it represents.

Three stories I wanted to post on yesterday but couldn't because I only post one thing on Wednesday.

Mayor of Portland, OR cries foul when a buttload of illegals and three managers are arrested.

I am angered by this morning's arrest by federal officers of approximately 150 Portland residents who were working at a local produce company. I certainly understand why federal officials executed criminal warrants against three individuals who stole and sold Social Security numbers. But to go after local workers who are here to support their families while filling the demands of local businesses for their labor is bad policy

Because, your Honor, they are here illegally. They are criminals, and criminals get arrested.Story

Leave it to a rapper to break down the political landscape in terms no one can understand. After reading DMC's mastering of the English language and the nuances of politics, I might just have to vote for Hillary or Obama myself. Yo.Story

Les Moonves blames sexism for Katie Couric's sinking numbers. Yes, it's because she's a woman. Has nothing to do with the fact that she's a horrible anchor.Story

Angelina Jolie's new pet cause is freedom of the press. While promoting her new movie, A Mighty Heart, about the widow of murdered journalist Daniel Pearl, Jolie is sporting a tattoo on her neck that says "Know Your Rights". Too bad she doesn't practice what she preaches. Wanting Fox News and all it affiliates banned from the premier. Is there no end to the close minded Liberals intolerance? It's true. Liberals are the least Liberal minded people.Story

Democrats in Broward County Florida want to want to cancel a deal with radio station WIOD, AM 610, which has been the official station for emergency information, say during a hurricane, because the station airs Rush Limbaugh.Story

69-year-old Bert Brady has never stepped foot in Iraq or Afghanistan, yet many soldiers who have know who he is and appreciate what he's done for them. You see, for the past year Mr. Brady has made a trip to the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport nearly every morning to welcome home returning American troops. Bert Brady, along with fellow veterans, is a member of the local Welcome Home a Hero program. They make sure that every soldier who steps off a plane in Dallas gets a special homecoming.

Brady shows up each day with the goal of making soldiers feel appreciated and proud of their service. He's often joined by veterans of the Vietnam and Korean wars who did not get a warm reception when they returned from battle.

"We are not going to forget them like a lot of Vietnam soldiers have been forgotten," Brady said. "We are not going to forget the soldiers of today."

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. To find out more about Wednesday Hero, you can go here.

This was sent to me by a Blogroll member. On December 6, 2006, U.S. Army Captain Travis Patriquin, Marine Major Megan McClung and Army Gunner Vincent VJ Pomante lost their lives in Ramadi, Iraq. In honor of these three there will be a 5K run held to help raise money for the Travis Patriquin Family Memorial Fund and the Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund. If you don't live near the Lockport, IL area you can still make a donation. Go to www.heroesrun.com for more information.

Keith Olbermann, once again, shows himself to be a king amongst morons. This time he's concocted the theory that the Bush administrations announcement of the the JFK terror plot was politically timed with the Democratic presidential debate. But it gets better. He's also of the dopes who's pushing the theory that Bush is trying to provoke a new cold war with Russia to distract from Iraq. But it gets even better yet again. He's also somehow drawn Fox News into the this because NYPD Commissioner Raymond Kelly is the father of FNC correspondent Greg Kelly.Story

No, not the kind you find at Home Depot but rather the kind you find inhabiting a planet 16 light years from Earth. A Canadian man was admitted to the hospital because he had passed out due to compartment syndrome in his legs. When the nurse went to insert a arterial line they found that his blood was green, ala the Vulcans. Read why.

President Bush's amnesty plan has failed. This is a cause for celebration.

Anyone who thinks that, if passed, this plan would be a success is delusional. We can't find 20 million people to round up and ship back, but we think they'll line up with their check for $5,000 and be willing to go back to the back of the line and wait? Bear Creek Ledger has a good piece up about 20 loopholes in this bill.

NATO officials say they have caught Iran red-handed, shipping heavy arms, C4 explosives and advanced roadside bombs to the Taliban for use against NATO forces, in what the officials say is a dramatic escalation of Iran's proxy war against the United States and Great Britain.

Question. When should the U.S. put the military option on the table?Story

Since being deployed to the Diyala province of Iraq in November 2006, Col. David Sutherland, along with brigade Chaplain Maj. Charlie Fenton, pictured on the right, has made it a point to visit every wounded soldier and say goodbye to each and everyone of his men who've lost their life. Four of his soldiers died on one day in April 2007 and the bad news arrived at his office in waves -- a knock on the door, a note handed in by an aide, heads bowed, knowing glances exchanged. Aides say Sutherland walks to the mortuary affairs tent at his base and embraces the dead bodies of his men. "I hug all my fallen soldiers", said Sutherland. "They are my own".

Diyala province is one of the worst places in Iraq. Public beheadings of Iraqi police, tribal wars, sectarian wars and al-Qaida. "I didn't come here thinking it'd be easy. No one told me, 'You're gonna get 9 hours of sleep a night and you're not gonna lose soldiers'. But I believe this is the place for me."

"As a soldier, I want to be here on the ground," he said. "As an American, I want it to end."

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. To find out more about Wednesday Hero, you can go here.

A recent finding of chicken bones in Chile suggests that Christopher Columbus wasn't the first person to "discover" this land. A land with people already living here. Well, we all know about the Vikings, but seem to ignore that. But, the bones, from a chicken native to Polynesia, date back to sometime between 1304 to 1424 and the only way that the chicken could have made it to this continent was to be brought here by people. So, it seems we have more evidence to stop celebrating this murderous slave trader.Story

Syndicated columnist, Richard Reeves, wrote a piece yesterday called What They Think Of Us in which he talks about how some Americans view America today. You can read it yourself, I'm not going to quote every other paragraph for you. But I do have some words of encouragement for Mr. Reeves and everyone who feels the same way he does. Don't worry. Once we elect a Democrat next year and go back to being a cowardly nation who bows down for Europe and the U.N., like we were in the 90's, you can all rejoice because the world will love us and therefore you can start to love us as once again. You'll no longer feel any shame in being American.

As the piece states, these are also the sentiments of many people around the world. So, who's to fault? George Bush? Yes. His line "You're either with us or you're with the terrorists" pissed a lot of people off. I happen to agree with him, but that's neither here nor there. Is he alone in taking fault? No. The rest of the world holds some blame as well. Aren't the people who don't like Bush's policies supposed to be "progressive" and "open minded" people who pride themselves on being able to work things out rather than let pride get in their way? And yet, they can't let their hatred go to see things from his point of view. They actually have no interest in hearing what he has to say. It's Nazi this and warmonger that. We're arrogant, hypocritical bullies who think we're exempt from the rules. They're right and he's wrong. Now remember, these are the same people who claim that Bush is pig-headed, unwilling to listen and compromise. That he doesn't care what anyone has to say. They're perfectly willing to work with terrorist supporting countries like Iran, and yet when it comes to Bush... Kind of, oh, I don't know, arrogant, don't you think?

I'm anti-black and yes, I'm an anti-Semite. In fact, when a Jew is killed on the street I'm very proud of that. Like Yankel Rosenbaum. One more thing. Don't buy from a store owned by someone who doesn't look like us. You race traitor. Now, can I have a street named after me?